~1930 Galiano A. Cerrito Auditorium Natural
Description
Galiano by A. Cerrito c 1930 | $2450 | (v2422) This guitar is a pretty rare example of a jumbo or auditorium-size flat top made in NYC in the first part of the 20th century by Italian luthier Antonio Cerrito. We date it to the late 20s or early 30s due to the tuners and the 14-fret-to-the-body neck. Cerrito was know to work with the Oscar Schmidt factory in Jersey City as well as in his own shop in NYC. It's reported that he and other Italian luthiers were a big influence on master luthier John D'Angelico. Although seldom seen, we've had a number of these over the years including one with Cerrito's signature. This example has the Galiano label with A. Cerrito's name on it. Galiano, by the way, was a made up brand used by both Cerrito and Oscar Schmidt on some of the higher end instruments.
The back and sides are a nice grade of mahogany with the back being one-piece. The ladder-braced top is even-grain, quarter-sawn spruce and edged with black/white purfling and bound in holly. The sound hole shares the black/white trim. The neck is mahogany and carved in a modern-feeling 'C'-shape, which appears to be typical of the Cerrito guitars we've seen, as is the mortise and tenon neck joint and a cleated center seam on the top. The finger board is Brazilian rosewood with two large position dots in pearl, also typical of Cerrito-made pieces. The (replacement) bridge is Brazilian rosewood.
The body measures 15 3/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 25 1/8". The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 3/8" across at the saddle. Body depth is 3 1/2" deep at the end pin.
Past repairs include: it appears that the guitar has had a few bridge replacements, as there is a good bit of smudge around the bridge profile; a thin maple cap is glued over the bridge plate/brace; a small crack repair between the sound hole and fingerboard extension; it's likely the frets were replaced due to some chipout along some slots. We recently reset the neck; crafted a pyramid-style bridge from Brazilian rosewood; leveled and dressed the frets; cleaned and lubed the tuners. Action is set at 4 & 6/64".
The guitar appears original but for the afore mentioned bridge, and maybe the bridge pins. There is only the one small crack as reported above and the original finish shows nicks and dings from wear, tool marks from bridge work, and a plum-size stain in the area of the lower bout.
What sets this guitar apart from it's peers is that it is a ladder-braced, thin-ish bodied jumbo flat top with a 14-fret neck and slotted head stock .. a rare combination from that era of guitar building! The build quality is above average, and the materials top-notch. The guitar plays really well, with smooth action. The sound is dry and woody with lots of clarity, and can really pump volume with a pick!
Check out the sound clip!
The back and sides are a nice grade of mahogany with the back being one-piece. The ladder-braced top is even-grain, quarter-sawn spruce and edged with black/white purfling and bound in holly. The sound hole shares the black/white trim. The neck is mahogany and carved in a modern-feeling 'C'-shape, which appears to be typical of the Cerrito guitars we've seen, as is the mortise and tenon neck joint and a cleated center seam on the top. The finger board is Brazilian rosewood with two large position dots in pearl, also typical of Cerrito-made pieces. The (replacement) bridge is Brazilian rosewood.
The body measures 15 3/16" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 25 1/8". The fingerboard measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 3/8" across at the saddle. Body depth is 3 1/2" deep at the end pin.
Past repairs include: it appears that the guitar has had a few bridge replacements, as there is a good bit of smudge around the bridge profile; a thin maple cap is glued over the bridge plate/brace; a small crack repair between the sound hole and fingerboard extension; it's likely the frets were replaced due to some chipout along some slots. We recently reset the neck; crafted a pyramid-style bridge from Brazilian rosewood; leveled and dressed the frets; cleaned and lubed the tuners. Action is set at 4 & 6/64".
The guitar appears original but for the afore mentioned bridge, and maybe the bridge pins. There is only the one small crack as reported above and the original finish shows nicks and dings from wear, tool marks from bridge work, and a plum-size stain in the area of the lower bout.
What sets this guitar apart from it's peers is that it is a ladder-braced, thin-ish bodied jumbo flat top with a 14-fret neck and slotted head stock .. a rare combination from that era of guitar building! The build quality is above average, and the materials top-notch. The guitar plays really well, with smooth action. The sound is dry and woody with lots of clarity, and can really pump volume with a pick!
Check out the sound clip!